Boom extension



G. H. ECKELS BOOM EXTENSION Sept. 1, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.29, 1961 INVENTOR. 660266 H. ECKELS BY IMZW/ 9%m G. H. ECKELS BOOMEXTENSION Sept. 1, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 29, 1961 INVENTOR.650266 H. ECKELS -BY MW,

ATTORNEYS.

ca. H. ECKELS 3,146,853

BOOM EXTENSION Sept. 1, 1964 Filed Dec. 29. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR. 650265 H. EC/(ELS ATTOENEY5.

United States Patent 3,146,853 BOOM EXTENSION George H. Echels,Lakewood, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Ohio BrassCompany, Mansfield, Ohio, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Dec. 29,1961, Ser. No. 163,279 17 Claims. (Cl. 182-46) This invention relates toenergized line working and concerns particularly arrangements forcarrying the line conductors.

In the working of high tension energized lines with the personnel at thepotential of the lines, it has been proposed to support the personnel inbuckets or Faraday cages carried by arms capable of being elevated.

It is desirable, however, to provide means for supporting the hightension line while the personnel is Working upon it and also to be ableto use the same elevating mechanism for the personnel carrier and forpicking up, holding and lifting the work safely.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to enable heavyhightension line conductors to be carried and handled safely.

A more specific object is to provide angularly and axially adjustablemeans supported by the personnel lift for handling the work and bringingit into the desired working position without first being required tobring the personnel to the potential of the high tension line conductorsbeing Worked upon.

Other and further objects, features and advantages will become apparentas the description proceeds.

In carrying out the invention in accordance with a preferred formthereof, a boom extension is provided which is secured to the samebucket support shaft which supports the personnel carrier and which isangularly and axially adjustable with respect thereto with a swivel hookat the end for supporting an energized line conductor.

A better understanding of the invention will be afforded by thefollowing detailed description considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a personnel lift for energized lineworking, embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing theend of the main boom or upper arm of the personnel lift andfragmentarily illustrating the extension boom;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the portion of the apparatus illustratedin FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of the apparatus of FIGS. 2 and 3; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 3 drawn to a smallerscale and showing different positions of the extension boom forillustrating the manner of angular adjustment.

Like reference characters are utilized throughout the drawing todesignate like parts.

For energized working of high tension transmission lines personnel liftshave been proposed comprising jointed arms supported by mobile meanssuch as a motor truck. An example is illustrated in FIG. 1 wherein thetruck 11 is shown having a post 12 mounted thereon supporting anelevator including an insulated upper arm 13, the height of which may becontrolled by suitable levers 14 manipulated by an operator 15 in one oftwo buckets or Faraday cages 16 and 17 mounted at the end of the arm 13so as to be insulated from the ground and the motor truck 11. Suchbuckets or Faraday cages 16 and 17 are composed of or covered byelectrically conducting material, such as metal, which is electricallyconnected by means (not shown) to a high tension line conductor 18 uponwhich work is to be done. In this Patented Sept. 1, 1964 ice manner thepersonnel are raised to the electrical potential of the conductor 18 andsurrounded by an electrostatic field at the same potential so that theymay safely work upon or handle the conductor 18 without utilizinginsulated tools or gloves in handling or working upon the conductor 18.

In accordance with the present invention, easily adjustable means areprovided for carrying or supporting the conductor 18 while the personnelare working upon it. This problem may arise, for example, inrepositioning energized high tension conductors upon crossarms of a poleline or tower line. For instance, if it should become necessary toreplace a high tension insulator 19 or its supporting pin (not visiblein the drawing) which may have become defective, it becomes necessary tolift the line 18 from the cross-arm 21. With long spans of heavy gagecable or conductors which are tightly strung, this involves too muchforce for accomplishment by the operator unaided by mechanical means.Accordingly, the arm 13 is provided with an insulated extension boom 22having a swivel hook 23 at the end thereof for handling or carrying theenergized high tension conductor 18.

As more clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the end of the arm 13 carries atransversely extending bucket support shaft 24 to which the buckets 16and 17 are secured in a conventional manner not constituting a part ofthe present invention.

For enabling the extension boom 22 to be supported adjustably, a hub 25carrying a support sleeve 26 is rotatably mounted upon the bucketsupport shaft 24 and a support plate 27 is fixed to the upper arm 13.Bolts 28 and 29 secure the support plate 27 to the upper arm 13. Thesupport sleeve 26 is secured to the hub 25 by means of an ear member 31which is welded to the hub 25 at weld lines 32 and to a channel 33 atweld lines 34. As shown more clearly in FIG. 4, the chan nel 33 in turnis welded to the support sleeve 26 at weld lines 35.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the extension boom 22comprises a fiber glass tube 22. The dimensions of the fiber glass tube22 and the support sleeve 26 are such as to provide an easy slip fitenabling the tube or rod 22 to be axially moveable within the supportsleeve 26. For fixing the axial position of the tube 22 in the sleeve26, the tube 22 is provided with a plurality of transverse openings 36spaced axially along the tube 22 and the sleeve 26 is also provided witha pair of transverse openings 3'7. A securing pin 38 having a head 39for limiting movement and a handle 41 is provided, the pin 38 beingadapted to pass through the openings 37 in the sleeve 26 and one of theset of openings 36 in the tube 22.

The support plate 27 has an end 42 bent over for securement to the upperarm 13 by the bolts 29, and has an arcuate portion 43. The arcuateportion 43 of the support plate 27 is provided with a series ofangularly spaced holes 44 adapted to co-operate with a pair of holes 45in lugs 46 secured to the support sleeve 26 and adapted to receive a pin47 having a head 43 and a handle 49.

For pivotally securing the swivel hook 23 to the end of the insulatedrod 22 a cylindrical cap or ferrule 51 is provided secured to the end ofthe rod 22 by angularly displaced bolts 52. Welded to the ferrule orcylindrical cap 51 is a transverse tubular bore member 53. The swivelhook 23 comprises a U-shaped member with parallel arms 54 and 55. Thelatter is received with a loose fit within the transverse bore member 53of the ferrule 51. Collars 56 and 57 are provided at the ends of theparallel arms or members 54 and 55, respectively.

An additional collar 58 is provided on the arm 55 for locating the arm55 within the bore member 53.

In order to permit locking the energized transmission line conductor 18within the swivel hook 23 when desired, a hook closing pin 59 isprovided. The collared ends of the parallel arms 54 and 55 are providedwith transverse apertures 61 to receive the pin 59. The pin 59 in turnis arranged to be removably locked within the apertures 61 by providingat one end a head 62 and at the opposite end a hinged locking key 63. Itwill be understood that the locking key 63 is narrower than the aperture61. It may be hinged to the end of the pin 59 in any desired manner. Forexample, the end of the pin 59 may be slotted to receive the locking key63 and a transverse pivot pin 64 may be provided passing through andsecured in suitable transverse openings in the split end of the pin 59and the locking key 63. A spring loaded latch may be utilized instead ofthe through pin 59.

In using the extension boom 22, it will be understood that it is fixedby means of the removable pins and 47 in such angular and longitudinalposition as may be most convenient for the operation to be performed.When it is desired to lift the energized line 18 out of the position inwhich it is first found, the aerial lift including the upper arm 13 ismanipulated by means of the levers 14 in such a manner as to bring theopen end of the swivel hook 23 under the conductor 18, whereupon thelift is raised to cause the hook 23 to engage the energized lineconductor 18. A flexible conductor (not shown) connected on one end tothe metallic cage 16 or 17, depending on which operator is to performthe work, is then connected to the conductor 118 in order to bring thepersonnel carrying cage to the potential of the line conductor.

The operator then reaches over and passes the locking key 63 and thehook closing pin 59 through the apertures 61 until the locking key 63clears the second aperture, whereupon it swings away from axialalignment with the pin 59 so as to prevent accidental retraction of thepin from the aperture 61 in the swivel hook 23. Since the hook 23swivels, the operation may be performed regardless of the alignment ofthe motor truck 11 with respect to the direction of the energized lineconductor 13.

The conductor 18 is then lifted or lowered or moved transversely as thecase may be manipulation of the levers 14 to cause the upper end of theupper arm 13 and the swivel hook 23 to move in the desired position. Thestrength of the operator is not required for handling the line 18 andhis entire attention and both hands are left free to perform whateverwork needs to be done upon the conductor 18.

While the invention has been described as embodied in concrete form andas operating in a specific manner in accordance with the provisions ofthe patent statutes, it should be understood that the invention is notlimited thereto, since various modifications will suggest themselves tothose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus including an aerial lift and a personnel carrier forsupporting a workman for working an energized line conductor which issupported above the earth in spaced relation thereto, a horizontalsupport shaft for the personnel carrier, an aerial lift arm carrying thesupport shaft, a hub adapted to be received over the support shaft, asupport plate fixed to the lift arm, a support sleeve carried on thesaid hub, the hub being pivotal upon the support shaft, means foradjustably fixing the angular relationship between the support sleeveand the support plate, a fiber glass tube extending through the supportsleeve, means for positioning the tube adjustably axially with respectto the support sleeve, and a swivel hook attached to the end of thefiber glass tube.

2. In apparatus including an aerial lift and a personnel carrier forsupporting a workman for working an energized line conductor which issupported above the earth in spaced relation thereto, a horizontalsupport shaft for the personnel carrier, an aerial lift arm carrying thesupport shaft, a hub adapted to be received over the support shaft, asupport plate fixed to the lift arm, a support sleeve carried on thesaid hub, the hub being pivotal upon the support shaft, means foradjustably fixin the angular relationship between the support sleeve andthe support plate, a rod composed of insulating material extendingthrough the support sleeve, means for positioning the rod adjustablyaxially with respect to the support sleeve, and a swivel hook attachedto the end of the rod.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the insulating rod has a ferrulesecured to the end thereof formed which a transverse bore and the swivelhook comprises a U-member with a pair of arms, one of which is pivotallymounted in said bore.

4. In apparatus for working an energized line conductor which issupported above the earth in spaced relation thereto, a boom and anextension thereof comprising an insulated rod with angularly adjustablemeans on the boom secured to the rod for supporting it on the boom andmeans secured to the end of the rod adapted to receive a conductor insupporting relation thereto.

5. In apparatus for working an energized line conductor which issupported above the earth in spaced relation thereto, a boom having aninsulated end with a support shaft mounted thereon, a support platesecured to the boom end, a hub rotatably mounted upon the support shaft,the support plate being disposed arcuately with removable means forfixing the angular relation of the hub to the support plate, a supportsleeve secured to the hub and an insulated rod received in said sleeve.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5 in which the insulated rod is tubular inform.

7. Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein the support sleeve has a pinreceiving transverse aperture and the insulating tube has a series oftransverse apertures axially spaced thereon adapted to receive pin meansfor adjustably fixing the axial position of the insulating tube withrespect to the support sleeve.

8. Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein the insulated rod has a swivel hookat the end thereof.

9. In apparatus for working an energized line conductor which issupported above the earth in spaced relation thereto, a boom capable ofbeing elevated having an end insulated from the earth with a supportshaft mounted thereon transversely, a support plate secured to the boomend, a hub rotatably mounted upon the support shaft, means foradjustably fixing the angular relation of the hub to the support plate,a rod transversely secured to the hub, and line engaging means at theend of the rod.

10. In combination a personnel lift and an extension boom for working anenergized line conductor comprising a rod with angularly adjustablesupporting means on the lift for supporting the rod and means forsecuring the rod thereto axially adjustable and a swivel hook at the endof the rod.

11. Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the swivel hook comprises a membersecured to the end of the boom, said member having an elongated tubularbore, and a U-shaped member with a pair of parallel arms, one of whichis received in the bore member and the axis of which forms the swivelaxis of the swivel hook.

12. Apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the U-shaped member has transverseopenings at the ends of the arms and a removeable pin is adapted to bereceived in said openings and to extend transversely for closing the U,said pin having a head at one end and a locking key pivotally secured tothe opposite end.

13. In apparatus for working an energized line conductor which issupported above the earth in spaced relation thereto, an insulated boomand an extension boom therefor comprising a rod with angularlyadjustable means for supporting the rod on said first mentioned boom,means for securing the rod thereto axially adjustable, and a swivel hookat the end of the rod.

14. In an aerial lift for working overhead lines, the said liftincluding an arm arranged for movement at least in part in the verticaldirection, means on the arm defining a horizontally extending shaft, hubmeans carried on the shaft for pivotal movement thereon, an elongatemember supported by the hub means and carried thereby for pivotalmovement in the vertical plane, and means for fixing the relativeangular position of the elongate member with respect to the arm, theelongate member comprising a boom for carrying line apparatus from thelift.

15. An aerial lift in accordance with claim 14, including meanspivotally supported at the extremity of the elongate member away fromthe arm in laterally moveable relation thereto for carrying lineapparatus from the lift.

16. An aerial lift in accordance with claim 14 with a personnel carrieron the arm adjacent the extremity thereof, in which the several namedmeans are positioned adjacent the personnel carrier and the last namedmeans comprises a support plate fixedly positioned on the arm and havinga series of openings concentric with the said shaft at a common radiustherefrom, and locking means on the said hub means for engaging theopenings, all for adjustment of the relative angular position of theelongate member from the personnel carrier.

17. An aerial lift in accordance with claim 14, in which the elongatemember is carried in a tubular sleeve fixed to the hub means, the sleeveand elongate member extending in the longitudinal direction of the armand the elongate member sliding in the sleeve, the elongate memberhaving a series of openings in the axial direction thereof, and lockingmeans on the said sleeve for engaging the openings, all for adjustmentof the extension of the elongate member from the personnel carrier.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS950,641 Sands Mar. 1, 1910 1,299,018 Pearson Apr. 1, 1919 1,974,966McClure Sept. 25, 1934 2,246,630 Johnson June 24, 1941 3,014,679 JepsonDec. 29, 1961 3,043,546 Reich July 10, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 223,194Great Britain Mar. 15, 1925 OTHER REFERENCES Publication ElectricalWorld, volume 151, No. 26, page 133, of June 29, 1959. (Copy in Sci.Libr.)

5. IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING AN ENERGIZED LINE CONDUCTOR WHICH ISSUPPORTED ABOVE THE EARTH IN SPACED RELATION THERETO, A BOOM HAVING ANINSULATED END WITH A SUPPORT SHAFT MOUNTED THEREON, A SUPPORT PLATESECURED TO THE BOOM END, A HUB ROTATABLY MOUNTED UPON THE SUPPORT SHAFT,THE SUPPORT PLATE BEING DISPOSED ARCUATELY WITH REMOVABLE MEANS FORFIXING THE ANGULAR RELATION OF THE HUB TO THE SUPPORT PLATE, A SUPPORTSLEEVE SECURED TO THE HUB AND AN INSULATED ROD RECEIVED IN SAID SLEEVE.